Library Association (LA)

Library Association (LA): The Library Association (U.K) was founded
in October 05, 1877 during the first international conference of librarians
held at Brussels.
The name of the association was changed from “Library Association of the United Kingdom”
to Library Association in 1896. It receives a Royal charter in 1898. The L.A. becomes a wholly
professional Association in 1962 when new bye laws come into operation. The
headquarters of L.A. is located at 7 Ridgmount street,
store street, London.

a) Objectives: The L.A.
has the following objectives.

i) To unite all persons engaged
or interested in library work by holding conferences, seminar etc.

ii) To promote the better
administration of libraries.

iii) The promotion of
legislation.

iv) The encouragement of
research.

v) The better training of
librarians.

b) Organization: The association is controlled by a 60 member
council elected by the members. The L.A.
has a number of departments devoted to various aspects of librarianship and
library service. The association is advised by four committees.

i) Executivecoordinating.

ii) General purpose.

iii) Library service and

iv) Professional development and
education.

c) Membership: Membership is not confined to any country or to
library profession. It is open to individuals and institutions interested or
engaged in library work.

d) Source of Finance: Main financial support for programmers comes
from the membership subscription and publication of the association. However
grants for specific projects are also received from other sources.

e) Functions and Activities

i) Conferences and Seminars: L.A.
holds annual conferences regularly. In addition to this, its branches and
groups also arrange their own seminars, conferences etc.

ii) Continuing Education: L.A.
organizes continuing education programmers. It also organized short courses,
workshop and seminar to up date members regarding recent development in the
profession.

iii) Library Legislation: L.A.
took active initiative in enacting the public library act of 1892 and 1919 and
revising the bye-laws of the public libraries and museums act of 1964. It has
been active in clarifying issues arriving from legislation. It has kept a
watchful eye on censorship and copyright.

iv) Standards in Libraries: It has promoted a code of ethics for
the library profession. It has taken interest in evolving standards and
guidelines of techniques, procedures, equipments etc and has been working for
the betterment of salary, status and service conditions of library personnel.
The association also approved and published standards for hospital libraries in
1965.

v) Professional Registry: L.A.
maintains the professional register of chartered librarians (professionally
qualified members are known as chartered librarians and are of two categories

* Associates who are fully
trained and professionally educated librarians and

* Fellow (FLA) who have successfully completed
additional work at an advanced level to prove their ability in special areas of
librarianship.

Now in U.K. L.A.
in the main body which is authorized to conduct the examination in librarianship.

vi) COMLA: In 1971 the L.A.
was approached by the commonwealth foundation to assist in setting up a
commonwealth Library association (COMLA). COMLA was inaugurated at Lagos, Nigeria
in November 1972 with full support from W.A.

L.A. also plays a role in
the establishment of British Library in 1973.

vii) Research Programme: It sponsors numerous projects on its own
initiatives and resources.

viii) Awards: The L.A.
has a scheme of instituting awards to recognize excellence and outstanding
performance in library and information science. Some of such programmes are